PRESS RELEASE

Concerning US Air Raids on Iraqi Civilian Targets

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

December 2, 2002

The raids carried out on December 1 by US aircraft on civilian targets in the city of Basra and its environs have caused serious concern in Moscow. These actions, which, according to media reports, led to casualties among civilians and destructions of the civilian infrastructure, have no acceptable justification.

Russia and other countries have repeatedly firmly spoken out against such bombings which are contrary to the UN Security Council resolutions concerning the Iraqi settlement and to the desire of the world community to reach it by politico-diplomatic methods. Such military actions unapproved by the UN Security Council can only complicate the work of international inspectors in Iraq and provoke a serious exacerbation of the situation in the region. They go against the consensus stand of the Security Council, which has reaffirmed the necessity to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.